Apparatus for producing a knitted fabric having an inlay of weft threads



Aug. 25, 1964 F. SICCARDI 3,145,549 APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A KNITTED FABRIC HAVING AN INLAY OF WEFT THREADS Filed Dec. 16, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR. FRANCESCO S/CCAPD/ AGENT Aug. 25, 1964 F. SICCARDI APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A KNITTED FABRIC HAVING AN INLAY OF WEFT THREADS Filed Dec. 16, 1958 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 M i m T: U

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Aug. 25, 1964 F SICCARDI 3,145,549

APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING A KNITTED FABRIC HAVING AN INLAY OF WEFT THREADS Filed Dec. 16, 1958 1Q Sheets-Sheet 1O FRANCE SCO SIC CARD! INVENTOR United States Patent 5 Claims. (or. 66-84) The present invention relates to an apparatus and a process for producing a knitted fabric having a plurality of weft threads laid in between the knitted loops.

While the production of ordinary fabrics or webs goes back for many centuries and machine manufacture thereof is likewise old, machine production of knitted fabrics is of comparatively recent date. Rashel knitting machines have been in existence for more than fifty years and have proved their value for decades in the field of machines for making knitted goods because of their possibilities, this being so by reason of the use of many combs, the use of one or two needle-holding plates, the innumerable linkings which can be obtained by means of the link chains, by reason of the possibility of being able to use all kinds of yarns owing to the different degrees of fineness of the needles, etc. The production of knitted fabrics on Rashel machines was considerable throughout this period. For some years past, however, the knitted goods produced on Rashel knitters have had no outlet on the market. These machines are used today to a limited extent for making shawls and on a small scale for making net curtains.

In recent years, the manufacturers of machines of this type have put modernized and improved Rashel knitting machines on the market. These have a large number of combs for producing embroidered tulle or striped trimmings and plaid tulle and also for producing elastic webs. The Rashel machine can no longer be used in its old form for making knitted goods.

On the other hand, it is known that in weaving use is made of the warp and the shuttle. For knitting, use is made on Rashel machines and on all other warp knitters of warp threads for making run-proof knitted goods.

It is furthermore known that woven products are unyielding because the warp yarns are clamped and therefore cannot stretch lengthwise. Moreover, it is known that in woven products the weft is inserted in the warp.

However, goods by the name of weft-knitted fabrics are known which are produced on so-called flat knitting machines which are operated manually or driven by a motor, the knitted fabric produced being composed simply of one or more threads introduced transversely into the needles and the needles themselves being set in motion by devices provided for this purpose which are called cams. The knitted fabric consists solely of the above-mentioned threads and can be completely unraveled by drawing from it at the appropriate place the thread or threads of which it is composed. These flat machines are of limited over-all height and if desired it is also possible to insert weft yarn, which, however, is seldom done.

It is already known that a weft or inlaying device is sometimes mounted on Rashel machines for knitted goods, but this is an elementary apparatus which is intended for producing fringes and small trimmings and can moreover be used for wrapping or covering cloths the width of which is naturally very limited. Finally, a device designed for inserting a weft on Rashel machines is known which operates using sinkers. Since, however, the Weft is restricted to a single and permanently unchanged weft thread, the results which are intended to be obtained by means of the apparatus according to the invention cannot be obtained with this device.

The present invention has for its object to provide an 3,145,549. Patented Aug. 25, 1964 ice apparatus which renders it possible to lay weft threads in the knitted material. To be more exact, according to the invention, there cooperate with the warp or warps two or more weft threads which have exactly the same function and purpose as those of the filling or weft in conventional weaving operations. The web produced therefore consists of a knitted fabric and of weft threads inserted between the knitted loops. This web is hereinafter referred to as a knitted-inlay fabric.

Another object of the present invention resides in the manufacture of such an inlay fabric by producing from the warp or warps a fabric which has the characteristics inherent in knitted fabric, while the characteristics of conventional woven fabric are obtained from the weft threads.

To be more precise, it is an object of the present invention to produce goods consisting of two parts, namely of the warp yarns, which are knitted by the combs, and of the weft threads, which are inserted over great Widths, as in weaving of fabrics on conventional looms.

It is the aim of the present invention to solve the important problem of carrying a plurality of weft threads through the fabric over a long path of movement in order to obtain the most advantageous widths for such products, taking into consideration the fact that for a greater width there is less waste in the use of the product itself. The present invention therefore has the purpose of forming an inlay of not merely a single weft thread, but rather two, three and four or an increasable number of weft threads.

More precisely, a particularly advantageous object of the invention consists in so arranging these weft threads that they are controlled automatically in their feed, selection, sequence, duration of operative presence of one weft thread or another, frequency of interchange and rate of consumption. Thus, for example, an individual object of the present invention consists in the provision of a set of arrangements which automatically puts all its devices in motion, after the knitting machine has been set in operation, without the aid of the worker, whose task consists solely in changing the conical yarn bobbins of the yarn supply for the weft threads, it also being possible for each of these to have a weight of more than one kilogram, whereas in conventional weaving systems the bobbin carried by the shuttle is of very limited content, for which reason the machine used for this purpose must frequently be stopped for the purpose of changing the shuttles.

These and other problems are solved by the apparatus according to the invention which consists of a threadguiding carriage for inserting the weft, which is arranged so that it can be moved transversely of the needle-holding plate of the knitting machine, and possesses a first control arrangement for transmitting the alternating movements taking place transversely of the needle-holding plate to the carriage for the purpose of transverse insertion of the weft by way of the thread guide in order to inlay it into the knitted fabric, and which is furthermore characterized in that it comprises an assembly of weft-thread guide rods, each of which is provided with means for guiding a sepa rate weft thread and with means of adjustment towards the carriage for the purpose of introducing the corresponding weft thread into said carriage, means being also provided for prior determination of a sequence of threadguide rods which are controlled by a second control arrangement comprising connecting systems for transmitting and reversing the movement.

The invention is described hereinafter in detail with the aid of a preferred, but not exclusive, example of embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawing given by way of example, in which:

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic plan view of an arrangei ment comprising the essential parts of the apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in cross-section on the line IIII of FIG. 1 with the horizontal axis rotated by 90 in counterclockwise direction;

FIG. 3 is another side view on a larger scale seen in the direction of arrows III-J11 of FIG. 1, with some parts omitted;

FIG. 3a is a view of a detail;

FIG. 4 is a lateral view on a larger scale of a control lever assembly for the pushing members, shown in FIG. 2, with some parts omitted;

FIG. 5 is a plan view of the same arrangement as is shown in FIG. 4;

FIGS. 6 and 7 show on a larger scale the control-lever assembly of the special cam pulling members, in a lateral and in a plan view, respectively, this assembly constituting another unit;

FIGS. 8 and 9 show in side elevation and front elevation, respectively, a further unit consisting of the assembly of rocking levers with alternating advance;

FIGS. 10 and 11 show in side elevation and plan view, respectively, the thread-guiding assembly for the weft threads;

FIG. 12 is an actual-size longitudinal section of the carriage, while FIG. 13 shows a detail of the carriage and FIG. 14 is a plan view thereof;

FIGS. 15-20 show this carriage on a smaller scale in elevation and partly in longitudinal section in different working positions, while FIGS. 21-26 are plan views of the carriage which relate to each of FIGS. 15-20;

FIGS. 27, 28 and 29 are a front view, a side view and a plan view on a larger scale of further details of parts, some of what are visible in the preceding figures;

FIGS. 30, 31 and 32 again show other details in front view, side view and plan views; and

FIGS. 33-35 are diagrams illustrating successive steps in the iniaying of threads while knitting.

Before going into a detailed description of these figures, a number of observations of a general nature will be made hereunder on Rashel machines, to which the apparatus according to the invention can be advantageously applied, although it will be evident to the expert that an equivalent linking and an equivalent structure are possible by using equivalent means with all systems which are already available or are proposed.

The Rashel knitting machine, which was previously very common, has two needle-carrying bars (needle-holding plates) and combs, of which there are normally six. The loom can operate using one or two needle-holding plates and one or two combs, depending on the nature of the knitted goods which it is desired to produce, since this is dependent on the number of needle-holding plates, the number of combs and the knitting process employed. In addition to the parts already mentioned, the basic components of the machine include the main shaft with the cams, eccentrics and toothed wheels, which drive a number of these parts of the machine and effect alternate lifting of the needle-holding plates and the swinging out, at the proper time, of the combs. The latter pass between the needles in the raised position, each one being driven by a guide roller, turned under the control of a groove or slide in the cam link chains which are set in rotary motion by advance, at the proper time during the lifting, of the needles. Each individual chain is in contact with a plunger which carries at its end a small roller which follows the upward and downward movement of the links and causes displacement of the corresponding comb. Each comb by reason of the chain fitting, works its threads into the needles. A chain is provided for each comb and each comb follows the shifting thereof. All the combs move at the same time and at the proper moment during the lifting movement of the needles. The link chains may be of different lengths according to the type of inlaying and have a length corresponding to the desired ratio. The chains are driven by way of pins which connect the iridividual links to one another in series and engage in transverse notches provided in the chain drum to drive the entire chain. Since it is possible to operate with a single comb, only one link chain could also be employed, but preferably a second chain is provided which, even if it remains inoperative, balances the other chain and retains the pins. The link chains are made of hardened special steel; naturally, the more chains are provided (it has already been mentioned that there are from two to six), and the longer they are, the heavier they become in the aggregate, for which reason it becomes necessary to restrict them to a link size of 10/12/15 cm. The length of the chains and the weight thereof moreover require a frame with a supporting or carrying roller and the corresponding friction makes it necessary for the driving means which drive the chain mass to apply a correspondingly large force. In the present invention, the Rashel machine is employed with only one needle-holding plate, this being the rear one, and with one or two combs. It is possible to use a larger number, but this is not at all necessary since two combs are suflicient for producing a large variety of inlays or fabrics which create totally different effects together with the weft threads. It is pointed out that even with a single comb it is possible to produce a large series of knitted inlay fabrics. It follows from this that, on this basis, the link chains in the present invention are employed in a number limited to two series and since, in this case, there is no question of a pattern, but solely of an inlay, that the chains are kept short. In the Rashel knitting machine, on a half revolution of the main shaft one needle-holding plate is raised, while the other half revolution is used for raising the second needleholding plate. It has already been mentioned that, according to the invention only one needle-holding plate is employed for producing the knitted inlay fabric and it is pointed out that the time intended for the operation of the second needle-holding plate is used for inserting the Weft. The two combs used are driven by the link chains in the same way as has been described above in the case of the conventional Rashel knitter. The invention for producing the knitted inlay fabric has been carried into effect on a 96" Rashel machine, knitted inlay fabrics having a width of 200 cm. have been so produced. The invention can also be employed on knitters of greater width incorporating the apparatus described hereunder. It should be pointed out that in the description of the drawing the letter R is used to distinguish those parts which are known parts of the Rashel machine. Accordingly, the reference symbols 1R, 5R, etc. are employed to designate known elements, while numerals alone are used for all the other parts forming part of the apparatus according to the invention. Attention is drawn to the fact that the invention comprises two assemblies, one of which concerns the entire arrangement for controlling the feed of the weft threads, the second one appertaining to the devices for laying down the weft threads. These assemblies are shown in the relevant accompanying figures and, first of all, the following will be said in this connection:

The first assembly consists of: the special chains which actuate the plungers with their specially designed cam links, the plungers acting on transmission levers for controlling the specially designed thrust chain links and on similar draw levers; and of swing levers which can be pushed to and fro, and weft-thread guide rods.

The second assembly consists of: a carriage, with special weft-thread guides, cam means on the carriage, a guide arrangement for starting the forward movement of the carriage, a guide arrangement for starting the return movement of the carriage.

This having been stated beforehand, it is pointed out that FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 show the following parts: The chain-carrying drurn 1R, along with the plunger guide 2R with the small rollers 3R mounted at the ends of the plungers and adapted to come into contact with the six chains running in the grooves 4R provided in the chain drum 1R. In the normal Rashel knitter, all of the chains control the forming of the knit loops made by the individual combs. In the present invention, as already mentioned, the loom is operated using one or two warp thread combs. Therefore, only the two middle or central grooves of the chain drum and the corresponding plungers are employed for knitting. These two middle grooves out of the six grooves 4R, which actuate the two middle combs, are used preferentially owing to their vertical thread position, and because they operate more satisfactorily than the others whose threads are in an inclined position, yet any other of the combs provided could be used for knitting. The two warp-control link chains, which operate in the two middle grooves of the six grooved tracks 4R and which are intended to form the knitted loops by means of the movements transmitted by the plungers 8R, 9R, are mounted on pins of small length and are retained by bafile means in the form of two guides 5, which are widened outwardly and form a guide for the introduction of the pins. Of the six grooves 4R, the two lateral grooves on the upper side (FIG. 1) and the two lateral grooves on the lower side are allocated to four special weft-control chains 6, FIGS. 3 and 3a, which with their specially designed cam links 7 control separately the use of the individual weft threads. They may be used together or in part, according to the effects which it is desired to obtain, and it is to be borne in mind that each weft inlay may be formed by a color differing from those of the other weft threads and that yarns differing from one another may be employed. Associated with the said four grooves out of the six grooves 4R are four slidable plungers 10R, 11R, 12R, 13R, on the ends of which small rollers 3R are so mounted that they are actuated on the approach of the specially designed cam links 7 when the latter are in line with the plungers 10R, 11R, 12R, 13R on being advanced. Contact under pressure is effected by a helical spring 14 while the pin 15, on which one end of the spring is mounted, also serves as a stroke stop. The support 36R belongs to the frame of the conventional Rashel machine. For the reasons mentioned with regard to the middle combs, which are preferred for the knitting, instead of the grooved tracks provided for the four special chains, others could obviously also be used on the drum and not merely the outermost on the lower side and the outermost on the upper side. The special chains 6 in question are independent of one another and the chain pins 17 do not need any retaining guides, since they are mounted in the chain 6. The chains 6 may be of different lengths. The chain links are very light and consequently the chains 6 may also be rather long in order to permit as extensive thread repeats as possible. The specially designed cam links 7 are of standard shape which, however, may also be changed. They are made of rubberized iron or of steel and are not specially hardened. Their function consists in driving the plungers 16R, 11R, 12R, 13R which set in motion the devices described hereunder, whereby each special link 7, on actuating the corresponding plunger, effects the feed of the corresponding Weft thread which remains operative until a special link 7 of one of the other special chains 6 initiates the retractment of the operative weft thread and brings its own weft thread into operation. Attention is drawn to the fact that the plungers NPR, 11R, 12R, 13R are used because they are present on the Rashel machine and are available, but the work performed by them could also be carried out with other parts or with lighter actuating rods suitably arranged in the same way.

FIGS. 4 and 5 show the push levers 12R, 13R controlled by the special links 7 of the two lower chains shown in FIG. 1. The plungers 13R and 12R shown in FIG. 1 actuate, as will be seen, the respective bell-crank levers with arms 18 and 19 of different lengths (FIG. 5)

and the rods 20 and 21 shown in FIG. 5 articulated to these lever arms at 22 and 23 (FIG. 5), whereby the thrust is transmitted to the device described hereinafter. The bell-crank levers having the arms 18 and 19 rotate about the pin 24 by means of their hubs 25 and 25'. The link connection is obtained by means of the slots 26 and 26' (FIG. 5), which are engaged by the pins 27 and 28 provided on the small angle plates 29 and 3% These angle plates 29 and 30 are secured to the outer ends of the lever arms 32 and 33 by means of screws and are provided with the slots 26 and 26' which permit an adjustment such that the pins 27 and 28 cooperate to the desired extent with the lever arms 32 and 33 of unequal length. The blocks 31 and 31' mounted on the rods 20 and 21 have the function of displacing their associated rocking or swing levers, which are shown in FIG. 9. The tapered portion of the blocks permits oscillating contact since, as already mentioned, the rods 29 and 21 are pivotally mounted at 22 and 23. The lever arms 32 and 33 connect the ends of the plungers 12R and 13R with the angle plates 29 and 30. The parts shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 in broken lines are known parts of the Rashel machine. The shape of the lever arms 32 and 33 and of the push rods 20 and 21 shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is that best suited for the carrying into effect of the present inven tion by reason of the arrangement of other parts of the machine, but can naturally be changed, the functions of the parts themselves remaining unimpaired.

FIG. 6 shows the draw levers transmissively controlled by the special links in side elevation and FIG. 7 is a plan view thereof. The plungers 11R and 10R actuate respective bell-crank levers having arms 34 and 35 of different lengths (FIGS. 6 and 7). The hooked rods 36 and 37, which are articulated at 38 and 39, transmit the pulling movement. The bell-crank levers including the arms 34 and 35 rotate about the pin 40 by means of their hubs 41 and 41'. The link connection is established by means of the slots 43 and 43' (FIG. 7) which are engaged by the pins 42 and 42' provided on the small angle plates 44 and 44 (FIGS. 6 and 7). The angle plates are screwed to the outer ends of the lever arms 45 and 46 (FIG. 6) and are provided with slots which permit an adjustment such that the pins 42 and 42' act to the desired extent on the lever arms 34 and 35 of unequal length. The hooked ends of the rods 36 and 37 have the function of pulling their associated rocking levers shown in FIG. 9. The lever arms 45 and 46 connect the ends of the plungers 10R, 11R to the angle plates 44 and 44. The parts shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 in broken lines are again known parts of the Rashel machine. The shape of the lever arms 45 and 46 shown in FIGS. 6 and 7 can be changed, since they are configured thusly only to accommodate the other parts of the machine and can have other configurations consistent with their functions.

Shown in FIG. 8 (in side elevation) and FIG. 9 (in front elevation) is a rocking lever with alternating ad- Vance. Four levers are provided. Each of these levers acts on the devices appertaining to the corresponding weft thread. The levers bear the numerals 47, 48, 43 and 50. The rocking lever 47 receives the thrust from the rod 20 shown in FIG. 5. The rocking lever 48 receives the thrust from the rod 21 of FIG. 5. The rocking lever 49 is pulled by the rod 37 shown in FIG. 7 and the rocking lever 50 is pulled by the rod 36 shown in FIG. 7. The push rods 20 and 21 and the pull rods 36 and 37 are mounted in the holes 51, 52, 53 and 54 (FIG. 9) or in the holes 55, 56, 57 and 58, according to whether it 1s desired to increase or to reduce the displacement of the levers 47, 48, 49, 5-0. The upper part of the arrangement shown in FIGS. 8 and 9 consists of a flap 59 which owing to the force of gravity is held in its working position by turns by the rocking levers 47, 48, 49 and 50. In the region outside this flap, the rocking levers are in the inoperative position. If a rocking lever (47, 48, 49 or 50) is pushed or pulled, the edge of the flap 59 runs on the inclined surface 60 of the higher-located curved portion as the lever moves forwardly and the latter is retained by the edge of the flap after an oscillatory movement thereof. If another rocking lever (47, 48, 49 or 50) is pushed forward or pulled, the process is the same as that described in the case of the previous lever. At that moment when the edge 61 of the flap is in the highest lifted position, the previously engaged lever is withdrawn from the flap 59 under the action of its return spring (75, 76, 77 or 78, FIG. 11). The rocking levers 47, 48, 49 and 50 swing by means of the blocks 65 about the spindle 66 on which they are held with mutual separation by the washers 72 and with respect to which they are centered by the sleeves 73 and 74. The spindle 66 is secured at the ends by a washer and a pin 66'. The rocking levers 47, 48, 49, 50 each carry at their lower ends a vane 68c, 68!), 68a, and 68 (FIG. 9), in the middle portion of which a slot 70, 70a, etc. (FIG. 8) is provided. In each slot is engaged the corresponding weft-thread guide pin 96, 97, 99, 98 (FIG. 9). The hatched parts of the rods 31 81, 83, 82 (FIGS. 9 and represent the cross-section shapes thereof. The flap 59 swings on the pivot pin 64 and is secured at the ends by a washer and a cotter pin 64'. The flap is mounted on the pivot pin by means of lugs 63. The entire arrangement is mounted on a bracket 62 secured to the knitting machine frame by means of screws extending through the holes 69 of lugs 67 and 67.

FIG. 10 shows the weft-threaded guide rods in side elevation and FIG. 11 shows them in plan view. The housing 79 accommodates all the parts. The number of weft-thread guide rods corresponds to the number of weft threads, namely four, and they are marked with the numerals 80, 81, 82 and 83 and mounted in the housing 79 in suitable recesses which are provided in the outer walls of the housing at the points 84, $5, 86 and 87 and also 84, 85', 86 and 87. The above-mentioned four rods have at their ends a thread eye (made of porcelain) 88, 89, 90 and 91. The porcelain eyes are mounted on the end vanes of each rod. These vanes are marked 92, 93, 94 and 95 respectively. At the other end, the weft-thread guide rods carry the pins 96, 97, 98 and 99 each of which is engaged in the corresponding slot in the lower end portion of the rocking lever, as already mentioned above, and which are actuated as follows:

The rod 80 carries the weft thread controlled by the rocking lever 50, the rod 81 the weft thread controlled by the rocking lever 49, the rod 82, which is in the working position, the weft thread controlled by the rocking lever 47, while the rod 83 carries the weft thread controlled by the rocking lever 48. These rods are retained in the channel-shaped recesses 84, 85, 86 and 87 and also 84, 85', 86' and 8'7 by the pins 100 and 101 inserted in the holes 182, 103 in the long sides of the housing 79 (FIGS. 10 and 11). The pins 100 and 101 span the housing above the recesses, thereby holding the rods therein with freedom of longitudinal displacement, and are secured at their outer ends by the washers and cotter pins 100 and 101.

The entire arrangement is secured to the machine by the angle member 192a (FIG. 10). FIGS. 10 and 11 show the advanced rod 82 on commencement of working. The weft thread is introduced into the porcelain eye 90 (and in the same way into the other porcelain eyes) from above, as shown at the point 194 (FIG. 10). The thread enters the fabric 195 by following the line indicated in dots in FIG. 10.

In FIG. 10 there is shown at 196R a wedge-shaped element on which the needles 108R, assembled in a suitable casting 107R, work. The element 106R, hereinafter referred to as the needle-holding plate, is shown in crosssection.

FIGS. 10 and 11 respectively show in a broken-line cross-sectional view and in a plan view the weft-thread guide 109 in its working position, to which we shall return later on. FIGS. 12 and 14 show the weft-holding carriage in actual size.

The function thereof consists in conveying the weft thread from one end of the machine to the other, namely from one end of the needle bars (needle-holding plates) to the other.

The carriage (FIGS. 12, 13 and 14) consists of a platform 117 on which there is adjustably mounted at the front the weftthread guide 1119, at the outer end of which there is provided a slot 111 which permits the desired adjustment of the weft-thread guide by means of the guide 110, the weft-thread guide being secured by means of the bolt 112 to the platform 117. The weft-thread guide is provided with a blunt hook 156 and a hook with a bent point 157. The carriage runs on a rail 118 which is secured at its outer end to the sides of the machine. The rail is provided in its central portion with a recess 118' which contains the lubricant. The surfaces of contact 132 and 132' with the rail 118 are made of bronze. It is also possible to use ball bearings instead. The guide 132 is removably secured to the platform by means of a bolt 133, so that in case of need the carriage can be released from the rail 118. In the lower part of the platform of the carriage are provided the chambers 119 and 120 in which two chains 121 and 121' (FIGS. 23 and 24) run in opposite directions. The front chamber 119, which extends through the platform 117 and is lengthened upwardly (144) exactly like the rear chamber 121), is seured to the platform by the screws 125, 127, 124, 126 (FIG. 14). The rear chamber 120, on the other hand, is secured to the platform 117 by the screw 128. The chains 121 and 121 (FIGS. 23 and 24) are driven by suitable toothed wheels and pinions (not shown) driven by the main shaft of the machine which is shown only in FIGS. 23 and 24. The chains run continuously, one in one direction (forward movement) and the other in the opposite direction (return movement). The chains 121 and 121' (FIGS. 23 and 24) are kept centered by the bronze slides 122 and 123 which have supports 122' and 123' (FIG. 12) likewise consisting of bronze. On the other part of the platform 117 there is arranged a trapezoidal cam member 129 which is horizontal at the top and is provided at its two outer ends with two plane surfaces inclined in opposite directions and which terminate in two horizontal plane surfaces. This trapezoidal member is provided on its two sides with guides 113 and 114, respectively, which are housed at the front part of the carriage and are secured there by means of the screws 115, 116. In the middle part of the carriage the guides are indicated by the reference numerals 139 and 131. These are secured to the platform 117 by means of the screws 133 and 134. The trapezoidal member 129 is provided in the middle with longitudinal slots 129, 129" in the center of which the roller 129 is mounted. The trapezoidal member 129 also has a guide 143 at the top. This guide is secured to the bearing bracket 135 by the bolts 141 and 142. The bearing bracket 135 is secured to the housing 120 by the screws 137 and 136 and to the part 144 by the screws 13S and 139, this part being located in the front part of the carriage. On the bearing bracket 135 there is arranged the yoke 140 which is secured by the bolts 141 and 142 which also serve to secure the guide 143 already mentioned. The yoke 149 is provided at its two ends with two holes and 146, which serve as a guide for the plungers 151 and 151 (FIG. 12), of which one is accommodated in the front part and the other in the rear part of the carriage (FIG. 12). The plungers are made in one piece, since the upper corrugated portion 153 (FIG. 12) is formed out of the same part. The plungers are provided with a roller 154 which is mounted in the plunger body by means of the small shaft 155. The plungers 151 and 151 are shown from the front in FIG. 13 and from the side in FIG. 12. These plungers are connected to the trapezoidal member 129 through the compression springs 149 and 150. In FIG. 12, the

front plunger 151 is in the lower part of the trapezoidal member and has conical ends 152 which engage in the chain links, while the plunger 151' in the rear portion is not in engagement and its roller 154 is in contact with the horizontal upper part of the trapezoidal member 129. By reason of the interaction of the elements shown in FIGS. 16-26, the trapezoidal member 129 carries out, as will be seen later on in the description of these figures, a reciprocating movement, the said elements being guided alternately in the slot 129" of the trapezoidal member, which extends towards the front of the roller 129', and in the slot 129" thereof which extends towards the rear of the said roller.

If the machine is viewed from the rear, i.e. from the left-hand side of FIG. 1, a transverse arm 161) of a beveled knife member 158 (FIGS. 27, 28, 29) appears at the right end of rail 118 in a guide 159 which is clamned on that rail. The transverse arm 160 is provided with a slot 161, which permits adjustment thereof, and is retained by the plate 162. The adjustment of the beveled knife 158 is effected by way of the cam 165 which is mounted by means of the hub 164 on the main shaft 163R of the machine. By means of a horizontal lever arm 168, which has a fixed fulcrum (not shown) and is provided with a tension spring 175 and a roller 166 with pin 167, the raising and lowering movement of the cam 165 is trans mitted by the pin 174 to the vertical lever 169, which is provided at its upper end with a pin 170 engaging a slot 171 in the bell-crank lever 172 mounted on the pivot 173 on the right side of the machine. The upper end of the lever 172 is mounted in the slot 176 in the transverse arm 160 of the knife 158 to which the displacement is thus transmitted.

If the machine is so viewed, furthermore, a transverse arm 178 of a beveled knife 177 (FIGS. 30, 31 and 32) appears housed at the left end of the rail 118 in a guide 179 which is fixedly mounted on that rail. The transverse arm 178 is provided with a slot 179a which permits adjustment thereof and is reta ned by the plate 18%. The adjustment of the beveled knife 177 is efiected by way of the cam 181 which is mounted by means of the hub 182 on the main shaft 163R of the machine. The swing arm 183, which swings about a pin 187 on a bracket 188 mounted on the longitudinal member 189R of the machine, is provided at its lower end with a tension spring 184 and a roller 185 with a pin 186'. In the upper end of the swing arm, on the other hand, there is provided a slot 191) engaged by a pin 191 mounted at the outer end of the arm 178 which is integral with the knife 177 and has the function of transmitting the movements of adjustment or displacement. All the parts constituting an embodiment of the present invention have now been described.

The operation and co-operation of the individual parts described will now be made easily comprehensible by the following explanations.

The development of the movements can be summarised as follows:

The special chains 6 (FIG. 3) actuate with their specially designed cam links 7 (FIG. 3) the plungers 18R, 11R, 12R, 13R (FIG. 1);

The said plungers act on the bell-crank levers comprising the arms 18, 19, 34, 35 shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 6 and 7;

These levers actuate the rocking levers 47-511 shown in FIGS. 8 and 9;

The said rocking levers set the weft-thread guide rods 80-83 (FIGS. and 11) in operationthe deployment of these rods being clearly apparent from FIG. 1 with a weft thread introduced into the thread guide of the carriage, the carriage being located at the left of the machine and being about to commence the movement of advance, so as then to operate in the manner described in detail hereunder.

On each revolution of the main shaft of the knitter,

10 shown only in FIGS. 27, 28, 29, the working operations take place in succession as follows:

Forward Movement Lifting of the needle-holding plate 106R (FIG. 10);

The warp combs, which are exemplified by 292R, 263R, FPGURES 33 and 34, intertwine the loops, while at the same time the cam links 7 of the special chain 6 (FIG. 3) actuate the respective lever belonging to the lever assembly shown in FIGS. 4-9 and the appropriate rod of the set of rods shown in FIGS. 10 and 11, which carries the Weft thread to be inserted and projects onto the center of the thread guide 199 (FIGS. 10 and 11);

The needle-holding plate 16R is lowered and after the completion of the lowering movement thereof the cam 129 of the carriage (FIGS. 12 and 14), which has been at rest at the starting point, is displaced forwardly on the machine, i.e. to the left as viewed in FIGS. 15-26, from its neutral or idling position (FIGS. 16 and 22), under the action of the cam assembly of FIGS. 30-32 acting upon the knife 177 which at this instant penetrates the slot 129', into that of FIGS. 16 and 22 to cause the engagement of the plunger 151' with the chain 121;

The carriage starts off (FIGS. 18 and 24), the thread guide 1159 receives the weft thread and inserts it into the fabric during the entire travel of the carriage; on arriving at the opposite end, the carriage strikes against the beveled knife 158 (FIG. 25), which switches the cam 129 over to the idle state (FIGS. 19 and 25) by entering the slot 129" thereof.

Return Movement Lifting of the needle-holding plate 1116K (FIG. 10);

The warp combs, which are not visible, intertwine the loops;

The needle-holding plates 1116R-108R are lowered; after completion of the lowering movement thereof, the carriage cam 129, which heretofore has remained in the idling condition shown in FIGS. 19 and 25, is shifted to the right (as viewed in FIGS. 15-26) by the cam assembly of FIGS. 27-29 acting upon the knife 158 to bring the plunger 151 into engagement with the chain 121 (FIGS. 20 and 26);

The carriage starts off (FIGS. 17 and 23) and inserts the weft thread into the fabric during its entire travel; on arriving at the opposite end, the carriage strikes against the beveled knife 177 (FIGS. 16 and 22) which switches the cam 129 over to the idle state.

The difference between the second and fourth operations during forward movement and the second and fourth operations during return movement should be noted. This difference consists in that changing of the weft thread takes place only when the carriage is in the starting position of FIGS. 16 and 22 (at the left of the loom) and that during the return movement the thread guide 169 inserts the engaged weft thread over the entire return path. It has already been mentioned above that when the thread guide 169 starts off for forward movement it already has the weft thread engaged by the recess of the hook 156 (FIG. 14) and that on commencement of the return movement of the weft thread changes over from the eye of the hook 156 to the eye of the hook 157 (FIG. 14), which guides it on the return path. It follows from this that in any given instance the weft thread always executes at least one reciprocating movement, i.e. in colored fabrics the weft inlays occur in one or more pairs for each color. For making single-color fabrics or fabrics with a single-color warp and an unvarying weft, the thread guide 1159 (FIG. 14) is naturally constantly supplied with the same weft thread and the Weft-changing devices already described remain at rest.

If the machine is viewed from the rear as previously defined, the chain assembly is located on the left side, the chains effecting the knitting actions of the warp-thread combs of drum 1R which are not visible (FIG. 1). Also on the left side are almost all the novel elements which have been created for the production of the knitted fabric. Their arrangement is clearly evident from the plan view of FIG. 1. The starting off of the carriage for the forward movement and the insertion of the weft thread commences from the left side of the machine and in this position the weft thread and the changeover with other weft threads come into operation automatically. With the needle-holding plate lowered, the carriage runs along just above the needle-holding plate 106R and a little to the rear of the latch hooks of the needles 103R.

The weft-threaded guide rods 86, 81, 82 and 83 (FIG. 11) appear by turns, as they are driven, in the middle part of the thread guide, between the hook 156 and the hook 157, when the carriage is in the stop position, namely in the departure position at the left end of the needleholding plate as illustrated in FIG. 1.

As soon as the weft thread to be inserted has appeared (e.g.: the rod 82 is advanced), the carriage starts off for the forward movement (FIGS. 18 and 24) and the blunt tip of the hook 156 engages the weft thread and conveys it to the other end of the machine, where the carriage is directed back, as briefly described above. As soon as the thread guide 109 takes the return path (FIGS. 17 and 23), the weft thread changes over from the inner opening of the hook 156 to the inner opening of the hook 157. The changeover takes place because the weft thread, which is at a standstill at the right-hand edge of the fabric, is taken up in the eye of the hook 157 on the commencement of its return movement, the hook 157 then carrying the weft thread to the opposite end of the knitting machine, and so on, until the thread is replaced by another weft thread. The weft thread completes its travel in the phase in which the needle-holding plate is lowered. The threads are inclined towards the opposite side of the needle-holding plate, because they are controlled by knitting combs which are displaced in this direction. These are the warp-thread combs described in connection with FIG. 1, which are driven by the plungers 8R and 9R. After each single passage of the weft thread, the needle-holding plate 106R is lifted and the weft thread 204 is inlaid by the knitted stitch which is executed with the lowering of the needleholding plate.

In the different positions of the carriage, the vertical motions of the two plungers 151 and 151 to engage and disengage their respective chains 121' and 121, as shown in FIGS. -20 and described above, are produced by the displacement of the trapezoidal cam member 129 in one direction or the other. The beveled knives 153 and 177, to accomplish this carnming displacement, bear upon the roller 129' as they enter the slots 129" and 129" in the terminal positions of the carriage, as previously set forth.

It is obvious that the apparatus designed in this way may undergo many modifications and variations within the scope of the invention. To give an example, in this apparatus the automatic delivery of the weft threads is effected by chains, as has been seen, and since this can also be achieved by other means, this apparatus is intended to be protected also in this field, namely even if such delivery is to be effected by means of toothed wheels, eccentrics, toothed sectors, racks, reversing motors, electromagnetic drives, radiation drives of every kind, metal ropes, etc. and as far as the drive of the devices for inserting the weft threads by means of chains and specially de signed cam links is concerned it is pointed out that in place thereof it is possible to use discs or cam assemblies. An apparatus designed in this way thus renders possible the production of knitted inlay fabrics which, in the entire field of knitting, take the place of knitted fabric for outer garments, and in fact in all its most diverse applications, and take the place of common woven fabric in ladies dresses, ladies coats, mens jackets, dress shirts and sports shirts. Furthermore, these fabrics take the place of elastic fabrics in bathing costumes, which are given the advantage of double elasticity, namely elasticity due to the knitted yarn in the longitudinal direction and due to the elastic weft threads in the transverse direction. The knitted inlay fabric finds a wide and very useful application in the field of furnishing and, in addition to a new note, it also provides the advantage of rational use in the covering of couches and armchairs, since it satisfactorily follows the curved or bent shapes which are today the basis of modern design. This knitted inlay fabric can find a similar advantageous application in the lining of the bodies of vehicles. By means of special intertwinings it is possible to obtain bead-like and spongy effects which are particularly suitable for manufacturing carpets. The use of the blade press, which belongs to the normal equipment of Rashel machines, offers further great possibilities in this field with very good results by reason of the features of the different types of patterns and colors, the tone of which meets present-day requirements. The knitted inlay fabric with elastic weft threads may also be employed in the field of fabrics for orthopaedic purposes. Various possible applications have been enumerated. An idea of the range of their importance will be gained as the possibilities become known which the present invention entails and which lead to the carrying out of patterns, designs and effects on a scale which is practically speaking unattainable in the field of conventional weaving. The production of fancy ladies coats is also rendered possible by the use of large patterns and utilization of the effect of the numerous color threads which can be laid into warp is also rendered possible, in addition to the fact that it is possible to employ processed yarns. The above-mentioned effects which can be obtained are very numerous; moreover, additional effects can be obtained by excluding certain inlaid threads, which results in worked transverse bands, and by omitting warp threads, which, in combination, results in openwork effects in the fabric.

I claim:

1. In a knitting machine, in combination, apparatus including a needle-holding plate provided with an array of needles for knitting a set of warp threads into a fabric, a carriage reciprocable past said needle-holding plate in a direction transverse to said warp threads, at least one thread-guiding element movable toward and away from said carriage in a predetermined position of the latter, pick-up means on said carriage adapted to engage a weft thread guided by said element in a proximal position of said element with respect to said carriage, drive means for moving said carriage in at least one reciprocating motion across the width of said fabric with entrainment of said weft thread by said pick-up means, control means synchronized with said drive means for withdrawing said element from said proximal position during certain reciprocations of the carriage, thereby disengaging said Weft thread from said pick-up means, and mechanism for co-ordinating the operation of said drive means and of said control means with that of said apparatus to cause an inlaying of said weft thread with the knitted loops of the fabric, said drive means comprising a pair of chains traveling in opposite directions alongside said carriage, said carriage being provided with a pair of members alternately engageable with said chains, said drive means further including means co-operating with said members for alternatey effecting their engagement with and disengagement from the respective chains, said co-operating means being positioned at opposite ends of the path of said carriage.

2. The combination according to claim 1 wherein said carriage is provided with cam means controlling the positions of said members relative to said chains, said cam means being provided with two slots, said co-operating means including a pair of beveled elements each positioned at one of the ends of the carriage path for engagement with a respective one of said slots for shifting said cam means into a neutral position in which both of said members are disengaged from said chains, said drive means further comprising periodically operative means for laterally shifting said beveled elements with respect 13 to the carriage path in a manner displacing said cam means from said neutral position into a position of engagement of a respective member with the associated chain.

3. An apparatus for producing, in co-operation with a knitting machine having a needle-holding plate provided with an array of needles, a knitted fabric inlaid with a plurality of weft threads, com rising a thread-guiding carriage transversely movable with respect to the movement of the needles of the needle-holding plate; a thread guide fixed on said carriage for transversely inlaying a Weft thread in said fabric upon a transverse displacement of said carriage; transmission means engageable with said carriage for transmitting a controlled reciprocating movement thereto; a plurality of juxtaposed shiftable weftthread guide bars adjacent said plate, each of said bars having means for guiding a distinct weft thread and inserting it into said thread guide; a plurality of rods respectively positioned for engaging and shifting said guide bars; control means for periodically activating said rods in a predetermined sequence, said control means including a rotating drum having circumferential central and lateral grooves, and weft-control chains engaging said lateral grooves on both sides of said central grooves and having cam-shaped links intermittently engaging and shifting respective ones of said rods.

4. In a knitting machine, in combination, apparatus including a needle-holding plate provided with an array of needles for knitting a set of warp threads into a fabric; a carriage reciprocable past said needle-holding plate in a direction transverse to said Warp threads; at least one thread-guiding element movable toward and away from said carriage in a predetermined position of the latter; pick-up means on said carriage displaceable therewith along a linear path intersected by the needles of said plate in an extended position thereof between extreme positions spaced outwardly from the ends of said plate, said pick-up means being adapted to engage a weft thread guided by said element in a proximal position of said element with respect to said carriage; drive means for moving said carriage in at least one reciprocating motion across the Width of said fabric With entrainment of said weft thread by said pick-up means; control means synchronized with said drive means for withdrawing said element from said proximal position during certain reciprocations of the carriage, thereby disengaging said weft thread from said pick-up means; and mechanism for co-ordinating the operation of said drive means and of said control means with that of said apparatus to cause an inlaying of said Weft thread with the knitted loops of the fabric, whereby said pick-up means is in one of said extreme positions in the extended position of said needles, said drive means including a continuously moving chain extending parallel to said plate, said carriage being provided with catch means detachably engageable with said chain whereby said carriage is entrained by said chain in the engaged condition of said catch means and remains stationary in the detached condition thereof.

5. The combination according to claim 4 wherein said pick-up means comprises a generally flattened body having a longitudinal edge extending parallel to a proximal edge of said plate and formed on its upper surface with a pair of longitudinally spaced inwardly opening hooked portions adapted to engage said weft thread.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,029,879 Lindley Feb. 4, 1936 2,062,999 Plumb Dec. 1, 1936 2,130,236 Holtz Sept. 13, 1938 2,136,367 Amidon Nov. 15, 1938 2,412,869 Burns Dec. 17, 1946 2,743,596 Noe May 1, 1956 

3. AN APPARATUS FOR PRODUCING, IN CO-OPERATION WITH A KNITTING MACHINE HAVING A NEEDLE-HOLDING PLATE PROVIDED WITH AN ARRAY OF NEEDLES, A KNITTED FABRIC INLAID WITH A PLURALITY OF WEFT THREADS, COMPRISING A THREAD-GUIDING CARRIAGE TRANSVERSELY MOVABLE WITH RESPECT TO THE MOVEMENT OF THE NEEDLES OF THE NEEDLE-HOLDING PLATE; A THREAD GUIDE FIXED ON SAID CARRIAGE FOR TRANSVERSELY INLAYING A WEFT THREAD IN SAID FABRIC UPON A TRANSVERSE DISPLACEMENT OF SAID CARRIAGE; TRANSMISSION MEANS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAID CARRIAGE FOR TRANSMITTING A CONTROLLED RECIPROCATING MOVEMENT THERETO; A PLURALITY OF JUXTAPOSED SHIFTABLE WEFTTHREAD GUIDE BARS ADJACENT SAID PLATE, EACH OF SAID BARS HAVING MEANS FOR GUIDING A DISTINCT WEFT THREAD AND INSERTING IT INTO SAID THREAD GUIDE; A PLURALITY OF RODS RESPECTIVELY POSITIONED FOR ENGAGING AND SHIFTING SAID GUIDE BARS; CONTROL MEANS FOR PERIODICALLY ACTIVATING SAID RODS IN A PREDETERMINED SEQUENCE, SAID CONTROL MEANS INCLUDING A ROTATING DRUM HAVING CIRCUMFERENTIAL CENTRAL AND LATERAL GROOVES, AND WEFT-CONTROL CHAINS ENGAGING SAID LATERAL GROOVES ON BOTH SIDES OF SAID CENTRAL GROOVES AND HAVING CAM-SHAPED LINKS INTERMITTENTLY ENGAGING AND SHIFTING RESPECTIVE ONES OF SAID RODS. 